Yet another Frankfurt International Motor Show debutant has been announced. Kia Motors Corporation released an official preview image of their new Pro-cee’d three door hatch in late July and confirmed that the sporty new hatch will make its world premier in Frankfurt.

Based closely on the pro_cee’d concept seen at the Paris Motor Show in 2006, the production ready Pro-cee’d has been developed by Kia’s European design team.

“Longer, lower and lighter than its five-door sister car, the new Kia Pro-cee’d is going to be a great drive,” enthused Mr. Jean-Charles Lievens, Senior Vice President Kia Motors Europe. “Combining real style and genuine practicality, our new three-door cee’d is sure to delight existing Kia customers and attract a new group of European consumers who have not yet considered our brand.”

Along with the cee’d four door hatch and sedan, the Pro-cee’d will be manufactured in Slovakia with production scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2008. Rumour has it that we can expect Kia to challenge established hot-hatch contenders with a 2.0-litre turbo-charged variant.

There is no word on when the Pro-cee’d will find its way to Oz but our best guess is late 2008, depending on demand from the Europeans.